US 11,733,206 B2
Multiplexing method for separators
Martin Raymond Green, Bowdon (GB)
Assigned to Micromass UK Limited, Wilmslow (GB)
Appl. No. 16/493,967
Filed by Micromass UK Limited, Wilmslow (GB)
PCT Filed Mar. 14, 2018, PCT No. PCT/GB2018/050653
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 13, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/167487, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 20, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1704018 (GB), filed on Mar. 14, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0080967 A1, Mar. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. G01N 27/624 (2021.01); H01J 49/00 (2006.01); H01J 49/22 (2006.01); H01J 49/40 (2006.01); G01N 27/623 (2021.01)
CPC G01N 27/624 (2013.01) [G01N 27/623 (2021.01); H01J 49/0031 (2013.01); H01J 49/0036 (2013.01); H01J 49/22 (2013.01); H01J 49/401 (2013.01); H01J 49/406 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
providing a sample to be analysed;
separating successive populations of ions from said sample in a separator, wherein said populations of ions are introduced into said separator at intervals, and the intervals are timed such that ions in a subsequent population of ions overlap ions in a preceding population of ions, within the separator;
varying one or more parameters of said separator such that different populations, of said successive populations of ions, experience different separation conditions;
detecting ions from said populations of ions and obtaining a convolved data set; and
de-convolving said convolved data set using the known variance of the parameters and outputting data corresponding to the successive populations of ions.
 
15. An apparatus for separating and analysing ions, the apparatus comprising an ion separator, a detector and a control system, wherein the control system is arranged and adapted to:
separate successive populations of ions from a sample, and introduce said populations of ions into a separator at intervals, wherein the intervals are timed such that ions in a subsequent population of ions overlap ions in a preceding population of ions, within the separator;
vary one or more parameters of said separator such that different populations, of said successive populations of ions, experience different separation conditions;
detect ions from said populations of ions and obtain a convolved data set; and
de-convolve said convolved data set using the known variance of the parameters and outputting data corresponding to the successive populations of ions.